Sweep wire passing device



K. H. WILCQXON 9 SWEEP WIRE PASSING DEVICE Filed June 1, 1943 2 Sheets-Shae; 1

Ks nnath HiNi'lc. c: x :1 r1.

HIS ATTORNEY .IINVENTOR. 33

N O x O c u w H K SWEEP WIRE PASSING DEVICE Filed June 1, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVENTOR.

Kenne' th I-LW-ilau xni'l.

HIS ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 15, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as

amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) 7 Claims.

The invention relates to improvements in antiminesweeping devices and more particularly to a device for permitting the passage of a sweep cable through a, mine mooring cable without interrupting the continuity of the mooring cable. 7 An important object of the present invention is to provide a sweep cable passing device with means orienting the device depending on the direction of travel of the sweep cable so that the sweep cable will be properly introduced to the passing device.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device to be interposed in the mine mooring cable and which will permit substantially unobstructed passage of a sweep cable therethrough.

A further object is to provide a device of the character described which will operate to permit the passage of a sweep cable at a relatively high speed through the mooring cable.

The invention also aims to provide a device as described which will operate after long submergence in salt water and which is not greatly affected by the accumulation of sea growths thereon.

The invention additionally has for an object the provision of a device of the character described which will function with heavy loads on the mine mooring cable.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following detailed description, taken'in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which drawings,

Figure 1 is a, side elevational view of the device, interposed in a mine mooring cable, a portion of which has been broken away, and illustrating the relationship of parts upon the passage of a sweep cable into the device.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the device illustrating the relationship of parts just prior to passage of the sweep cable from the device.

Figure 3 is a front elevational view of that portion of the device which is attached to the mine.

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the device and showing the normal relationship of its parts.

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

' Figure 6 is a view partly in front elevation and partly in section, taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Figure 4,

Figure 7 is a central vertical sectional view of the lower end of the device.

Figure 8 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially in the line 8-8 of Figure '7.

Figure 9 is a transverse sectional detail view taken substantially on the line 9-9 of Figure '7.

In the drawings, which for the purpose of illustration show only a preferred embodiment of the invention, and wherein similar reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter A designates a buoyant mine, connected to an anchor B, by a mooring cable 0 which is provided with the improved device D for passing a sweep wire E.

The device D includes an elongate frame l5 having left and right side members [6, ll, rigidly held inspaced generally parallelrelation, at the lower end portion l8 of the frame, as by spacers i9, 20 welded between the side members. Formed integrally with the spacer 20 are spaced apart forwardly and downwardly inclined supports 2|, 22 providing a forwardly opening notch 23.

Pivotally mounted for swinging movement about an axis in rearwardly spaced parallel relation to the frame D, as by a pintle 24 extending through the spacers l 9, 2B, is a combined lever and latch member 25. This member 25 includes a latch 26 normally extending across the open end of the notch 23 and a lever 21 for swinging the latch 26 to the released position illustrated by the broken lines in Figure 8. A shoulder 28 on the member 25 engages the side member IE to limit swinging movement of the latch beyond its released position. The latch 26 is provided at its forward end with an inclined cam surface 29 serving to automatically open the latch to permit movement of a cable into the notch 23. Encircling the pintle 24 is ahelical coil spring 30 having one end bearing on the frame side member l5 and its other end bearing on a vertical web portion 3! of the member 25, for urging the latch 26 toward the closed position shown in full lines in Figure-8. The side members IS, IT include downwardly and rearwardly inclined lower end portions 32, 33 which are diagonally outwardly bent as shown in Figures 3-5.

Rigidly secured to the inner faces of the side members l6, H, as by welding, are transverse supports 34, 35 provided between their rear ends with a suitably fixed spacer block 36 defining a forwardly opening channel 31. These supports 34, 35 include laterally extending forward end portions 38, 39 providing-convergent guide surfaces leading to the channel 31. Transverse aligning notches 40 are provided in the upper sides of the supports 34, 35 as shown in Figures 4 and 5.

Pivotally mounted between the side members l6, IT, at the upper end portion of the frame I5 is a link 4| connected to the mine A by a relatively short length 42 of the mooring cable C. In the example shown in-Figures 3 and .4, the opposite sides of the link 4| are provided with integral stub shafts 43 terminating in squared ends 44.

Means is provided for orienting the frame l5 with respect to the path of travel of a sweep cable. Fixed between arms 45,46, as by screws 41, is a rudder or vane 48 formed of sheet material, and provided at its rear edge with diverging fins 49, 50. The arms 45, 46 are provided at their forward end portions with square openings 5| snugly receiving the squared ends 44 of the stub shafts 43 whereby the vane is fixed for swinging movement with the link 4|. When the device is to be stored, the vane 48 may be swung to the position shown by broken lines in Figure 4.

The mooring cable C also includes a relatively long length 52 of cable attached to the anchor B and terminating at its upper end in a short length of chain 53. The link 54 at the free end of the chain is fixed to a screw 55 threaded into the shank 55 of a clevis 51. This shank 56 is square in cross section so as to non-rotatably fit within the channel 31. The clevis 51 includes a' transverse cylindrical portion 58 of a length to bridge the channel 31, and adapted to fit in the transverse notches 40. Pivotally secured to the clevis is one end of a bowed leaf spring 59 provided at its opposite end with a rigid laterally offset connecting element 60 adapted to bridge the notch 23 and rest on the supports 2 I, 22.

As shown in Figure 9, this connecting element 60 includes a rounded free end Bl provided with a diagonal slot 62 within which an intermediate link 63 of the chain 53 is rigidly secured, as by welding. As shown in Figure 4, the distance between the connecting elements 58, 60 slightly greater than the distance between the supports 2|, 22 and the supports 34, 35, upon tensioning of the chain by the bowed spring 59.

While the sweep wire may engage the mooring cable at speeds as high as or knots, the relative speed during the passing operation is not so high, because the bight formed in the mooring cable is carried along with the sweep wire until the mooring cable has been passed. The normal load on the mooring cable due to the buoyancy of the mine is increased when it is laterally drawn through the water for a distance while the sweep wire is sliding up the mooring cable and passing through the device D.

This lateral motion orients the passing device to the proper position for entrance of the sweep wire due to the trailing action of the rudder or vane 48. During the passing operation, advantage is taken of the angle produced in the mooring cable by this lateral motion to facilitate the release and re-engagement of parts.

The passing device D must of course be fitted in the mooring cable above the point of contact of the sweep wire therewith, but the nearer the device is located above the path of travel of the sweep wire, the more efiective it will be in successfully passing an enemy sweep wire before the cutters on the sweep wire reach the mooring 4 parts is that shown in Figure 4. The sweep wire, upon engagement with the mooring cable, moves forwardly and upwardly along the mooring cable to the chain 53. When the sweep wire reaches the junction of the anchor cable and chain, it hesitates because of the inflexibility of the joint. Upon passing this juncture, the sweep cable tends to accelerate due to the resultant increase in tension in the sweep cable. A sufficient length of chain is provided to check excessive acceleration of the sweep wire before the passing device is reached. The device having been oriented to the position shown in Figure 1, by the trailing action of the vane 48, upward pressure of the sweep wire on the lever 21 swings the latch 26 to its released position, as shown by broken lines in Figure 8, to permit movement of the sweep cable E to the position shown in Figure 1. In this po- Q sition, the sweep cable E produces tension in the cable 52 attached to the anchor B, and acts through the upper portion of the chain 53, the frame l5 and the cable 42 to pull the mine A forwardly and downwardly. As the sweep cable E moves forwardly in the direction of the arrow in Figure l, the angularity of the anchored cable 52 increases, and the drag of the anchor returns the chain 53 to the notch 23, wherein it is held by the latch 26. l

The load on the moving cable is then carried by the support 2 I, 22 at the lower end of the frame l5. Further forward movement of the sweep cable E pulls the clevis 51 forwardly and out of the channel 31, the relationship of parts now being substantially as shown in Figure 2.

Upon clearance of the sweep cable from the device D, the mooring cable returns to its original vertical position due to the boyancy of the mine A, and the spring 59, held firmly seated at its lower end 6E) by th chain 53, returns the shank of the clevis 5'! to the channel 31, as shown in Figure 4. The equipment is now in readiness for another passing operation.

Various changes may be made in the form of invention herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims' This invention may b manufactured and/or used by or for the Government of the United States of America without the payment of any royalty thereon or therefor.

I claim: 7

1. In equipment of the character described, a moorin cable including a mine cable and an anchor cable, and a device including a rigid elongate part and a resilient elongate part, said parts being connected one to the mine cable and the other to the anchor cable, means separably connecting said parts together at one zone, and auxiliary means distinct from said first-mentioned means and operable to additionally separably connect said parts together in a zone spaced from said first-mentioned zone to permit the passage of a sweep cable therebetween without interrupting the continuity of the mooring cable, said resilient part flexing upon separation of either one of said connecting means and urging said separated connecting means into connected relation.

2. In equipment of the character described, a mooring cable including a mine cable and an anchor cable, and a device including a rigid elongatepart and a resilient elongate part comprising a bowed leaf spring, said parts being connected one to the mine cable and the other to the anchor cable, means separably connecting said parts together at one zone including a connecting element at one end portion of said bowed leaf pring, and additional means distinct from said firstmentioned means and separably connecting said parts together in a zone spaced from said firstmentioned zone, said additional means including a connecting element at the other end portion of said bowed leaf spring, said bowed leaf spring flexing upon separation of either one of said connecting means and urging said separated connecting means into connected relation.

3. In equipment of the character described, a mooring cable including a mine cable and an anchor cable, a device including parts connected one to the mine cable and another to the anchor cable, means separably connecting said parts together in spaced zones to permit the passage of a sweep cable therebetween without interrupting the continuity of the mooring cable, said means including a latch releasably securing said parts together at one of said zones, a cam disposed in the path of travel of the sweep cable for releasing the latch, and a spring urging the latch toward its closed position.

4. In equipment of the character described, a mine cable, an elongate member having an upper end portion attached to the mine cable, a lower end portion provided with a main support, and an intermediate portion provided with an auxiliary support, an anchor cable, a main connecting element fixed to the anchor cable inwardly of its upper end portion for releasable connection to the main support, an auxiliary connecting element attached to the anchor cable at its upper end portion for releasable connection to the auxiliary support, a spring tensioning the anchor cable between said main and auxiliary connecting elements, the distance between said connecting elements upon tensioning of said cable being at least equal to the distance between said main and auxiliary supports, a latch releasably securing the anchor line to said member in the vicinity of said main support, means for releasing said latch upon movement of a sweep cable upwardly between the anchor cable and said elongate member, and means for orienting said elongate member upon engagement of a sweep cable with the anchor cable to guide the sweep cable between the anchor cable and the elongate member.

5. In equipment of the character described, an elongate member having an upper end portion for attachment to a mine cable, a lower end portion provided with spaced main supports, and an intermediate portion provided with spaced auxiliary supports, an anchor cable normally disposed between said supports, a main connecting element fixed to the anchor cable and normally bridging said spaced main supports, an auxiliary connecting element fixed to the anchor cable and normally bridging said spaced auxiliary supports, a spring tensioning the anchor cable between said main and auxiliary connecting elements, the distance between said connecting elements upon tensioning of the anchor cable being at least equal to the distance between said main and auxiliary supports, a latch releasably securing the anchor line to said member in the vicinity of said main support, means for releasing the latch upon movement of a sweep cable upwardly between the anchor cable and said elongate member, and means for orienting said elongate member upon engagement of a sweep cable with the anchor cable to guide the sweep cable between the anchor cable and the elongate member.

6. In equipment of the character described, a mine cable, an elongate member having an upper end portion attached to the mine cable, a lower end portion provided with a main support, and an intermediate portion provided with an auxiliary support, an anchor cable, a main connecting element fixed to the anchor cable inwardly of its upper end portion for releasable connection to the main support, an auxiliary connecting element attached to the anchor cable at its upper end portion for releasable connection to the auxiliary support, a spring tensioning the anchor cable between said main and auxiliary connecting elements, the distance between said connecting elements upon tensioning of said cable being at least equal to the distance between said main and auxiliary supports, a latch releasably securing the anchor line to said member in the vicinity of said main support, and means for releasing said latch upon movement of a sweep cable upwardly between the anchor cable and said elongate member.

'7. In equipment of the character described, a mooring cable including a mine cable and an anchor cable, a device connecting the mine cable and the anchor cable, said device upon proper orientation relative to the direction of travel of a sweep cable permitting the passage of the sweep cable through the mooring cable without interrupting the continuity of the mooring cable, and a vane for orienting the device relative to the direction of travel of the sweep cable, said vane having a trailing marginal edge portion including diverging fins for increasing the drag and directional effect of the vane on said device.

KENNETH H. WILCOXON. 

